Table 20.17 shows the quantities produced of selected manufactured commodities for the period 2004-05 to 2007-08.

The largest increases between 2004-05 and 2007-08 were experienced in the production of premixed concrete and alumina. Production of these commodities increased by 16% and 13% respectively.

Over the same period, the largest declines in production were recorded by clay bricks, and cars and station wagons for fewer than 10 people (both falling by around 14%), butter and unfortified wine (both falling by just under 13%), and brandy spirit (12%).

All of the selected petroleum products experienced a decrease in production between 2004-05 and 2007-08, with fuel oil production falling the most with a decrease of 10%. Production of automotive diesel oil and automotive gasoline both fell by 5% over this period, although production of both commodities fluctuated in the years between 2004-05 and 2007-08.

Among the metal products, after alumina, the largest increase in production was for raw steel (10%), followed by pig iron (6%). For the selected food products and beverages, the production of both chicken meat and red meat increased (by 6% and 3%, respectively).

20.17 MANUFACTURING PRODUCTION, Selected commodities

2004-05

2005-06

2006-07

2007-08

Percentage change from 2004-05 to 2007-08

Selected vehicles

Cars and station wagons for fewer than ten persons

no.

398 819

352 002

334 863

342 688

-14.1

Selected food products and beverages

Brandy spirit

'000 L

578

535

510

508

-12.1

Unfortified wine

'000 L

1 400 074

1 397 754

946 996

1 221 726

-12.7

Red meat

'000 t

3 142

3 092

3 292

3 226

2.7

Chicken meat

'000 t

750

773

812

797

6.3

Milk

ML

10 124

10 090

9 583

9 212

-9.0

Cheese

'000 t

388

373

364

359

-7.5

Butter(a)

'000 t

147

146

133

128

-12.9

Beer

ML

1 685

1 714

1 706

1 677

-0.5

Sugar(b)

'000 t

5 234

5 063

5 026

4 763

-9.0

Selected textiles

Scoured and carbonised wool(c)

t

70 901

53 253

na

na

na

Wool and man-made fibre tops(c)

t

17 313

4 572

na

na

na

Wool yarn(d)

t

2 390

1 362

1 137

na

na

Cotton yarn(c)

t

5 432

np

na

na

na

Selected petroleum and metal products

Automotive gasoline

ML

17 913

16 528

17 732

17 079

-4.7

Fuel oil

ML

1 092

1 048

942

979

-10.3

Automotive diesel oil

ML

12 822

10 154

11 055

12 177

-5.0

Aviation turbine fuel

ML

5 325

5 216

5 332

5 182

-2.7

Alumina

'000 t

17 161

17 826

18 506

19 359

12.8

Pig iron

'000 t

5 969

6 195

6 337

6 307

5.7

Raw steel(e)

'000 t

7 395

7 866

8 010

8 121

9.8

Selected paper and wood products

Paper and paperboard(f)

'000 t

3 244

3 221

3 192

3 281

1.1

Wood based panels(g)

’000 m3

1 894

1 944

1 743

1 800

-5.0

Selected building materials

Portland cement

'000 t

8 925

8 910

9 380

9 839

10.2

Clay bricks

m

1 705

1 606

1 570

1 459

-14.4

Premixed concrete

’000 m3

22 915

23 914

24 932

26 593

16.1

na not available

np not available for publication but included in totals where applicable, unless otherwise indicated

Table 20.18 provides details of 20 selected manufacturing commodities exported from Australia, for the periods 2007-08 and 2008-09. These commodities contributed 36% in total of the value of all merchandise exports in 2008-09.

Gold (non-monetary excluding gold ores and concentrates), petroleum, petroleum products and related materials and non-ferrous metals were the only three of these selected commodities to each contribute more than 4% to the total value of merchandise exports in 2008-09, contributing 7%, 5% and 5% respectively.

Between 2007-08 and 2008-09, the value of exports for road vehicles (including air-cushion vehicles) fell by 20% ($0.9b), while the value of exports for petroleum, petroleum products and related materials fell by 17% ($2b). In 2008-09, the value of exports increased for 13 of the 20 selected commodities. The value of exports of gold, non-monetary (excluding gold ores and concentrates) increased by 40% ($5b). The value of exports of cereal and cereal preparations increased by 38% ($2b) in 2008-09 (representing 3% of the total value of Australian exports), while the value of exports of transport equipment (excluding road vehicles) rose by 25% ($0.3b).

20.18 EXPORTS OF SELECTED MANUFACTURED COMMODITIES

2007-08

2008-09

Change from 2007-08 to 2008-09

Share of total exports 2008 - 09

Commodity group(a)

$m

$m

%

%

Non-ferrous metals

12 611.5

11 027.3

-12.6

4.8

Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials

13 219.0

11 032.0

-16.5

4.8

Gold, non-monetary (excluding gold ores and concentrates)

12 045.9

16 892.8

40.2

7.3

Meat and meat preparations

6 542.1

7 452.7

13.9

3.2

Cereals and cereal preparations

4 973.4

6 881.1

38.4

3.0

Medicinal and pharmaceutical products

3 947.8

4 029.4

2.1

1.7

Road vehicles (including air cushion vehicles)

4 591.1

3 675.2

-19.9

1.6

Textile fibres and their wastes (not manufactured into yarn or fabric)

Table 20.19 provides details of 20 selected manufactured commodities imported into Australia, for the periods 2007-08 and 2008-09. These commodities contributed 75% in total of the value of all merchandise imports in 2008-09.

In comparing the main commodities Australia exported with the main commodities imported in terms of value, it is apparent many of Australia's manufactured exports are simply transformed manufactured commodities such as food products and metals, while the majority of manufactured imports are elaborately transformed commodities such as machinery and equipment.

Of the selected commodities imported into Australia in 2008-09, the major commodity by value was petroleum, petroleum products and related materials, which made up 13% of imports.

In 2008-09, the value of imports increased for 16 of the 20 selected commodities. The value of imports of gold (non-monetary excluding gold ores and concentrates) increased by 54% ($4b) and iron and steel increased by 49% ($2b). Conversely, the largest decrease in the value of imports in percentage terms in 2008-09 was for transport equipment (excluding road vehicles), with a fall of 41% ($2b), followed by road vehicles (including air-cushion vehicles), with a fall of 19% ($5b).

20.19 IMPORTS OF SELECTED MANUFACTURED COMMODITIES(a)

2007-08

2008-09

Change from2007-08 to2008-09

Share of total imports 2008-09

Commodity group(b)

$m

$m

%

%

Road vehicles (including air-cushion vehicles)

26 078.8

21 195.0

-18.7

9.7

Petroleum, petroleum products and related materials

29 376.7

27 385.5

-6.8

12.5

General industrial machinery and equipment, nes and machine parts, nes

9 722.2

12 083.8

24.3

5.5

Telecommunications and sound recording and reproducing apparatus and equipment